Brazilian football clubs' reliance on betting sponsors questioned

Data analysis reveals that betting sponsorships account for a relatively small portion of total revenue for Brazilian Serie A football clubs, contradicting recent claims by club officials that losing such sponsors would lead to the ‘end of Brazilian football’.

On average, betting companies contribute approximately 7% of the gross revenue for these clubs. Even among the most dependent teams, the impact is limited: Flamengo receives roughly 12.85% of its revenue from Betano, Corinthians receives 10.6% from Esportes da Sorte, and São Paulo receives 10.5% from Superbet. Other major clubs like Palmeiras (5.6%) and Botafogo (3.8%) show even lower dependency.

The controversy follows a manifesto released by clubs and the FPF defending the industry. This comes amid political tension regarding potential government measures to restrict online gambling. Critics argue that the clubs' warnings are more about political pressure than economic reality, noting that teams like Bahia, Grêmio, and Internacional are set to lose betting sponsors in 2026 without facing existential threats.